Doctoral Student / Project researcher in “Participation in Long-Term Decision-Making” (PALO) University of Turku Department of Philosophy, Contemporary History and Political Science

Doctoral Student / Project researcher

The University of Turku is a world-class multidisciplinary research university which offers interesting challenges and a unique vantage point to national and international research and education.

The Department of Philosophy, Contemporary History and Political Science at the University of Turku opens a temporary position of doctoral student/project researcher for 1 May 2018 – 30 April 2020

We are looking for a doctoral student/project researcher for the project “Participation in Long-Term Decision-Making” (PALO). We will offer you funding for the first two years and will give you support and assistance to acquire further funding to finalize the doctoral dissertation.

The PALO consortium is funded by the Strategic Research Council of the Academy of Finland. It is a four-year research project (1 September 2017 – 31 August 2021) led by Professor Maija Setälä. In addition to the University of Turku, PALO involves Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Åbo Akademi University and University of Tampere.

The PALO consortium addresses the problem of ‘short-termism’ in public decision-making. PALO explores the normative and empirical issues related to long-term decision-making: Why should long-term interests be taken into account in collective decision-making? How are long-term interests taken into account in various contexts of individual and group decision-making as well as in current policy-making practices? PALO also addresses issues of institutional design: How can democratic institutions and practices be developed to help take long-term interests better into account? PALO develops participatory practices that help make democratically legitimate decisions accommodating future interests, including those of future generations. The focus is especially in mechanisms of democratic deliberation that are likely to enhance considerations of long-term perspectives.

More information on the project can be found at the website http://www.paloresearch.fi (under construction)

The advertised position is primarily post-graduate student position. In addition to doctoral studies, the person hired is expected to contribute to PALO’s other activities, e.g. seminars and interaction.

The person selected for the position is required to have a higher university degree and must have a accepted research plan. In addition, when acquiring his/her degree or otherwise, he/she is required to have demonstrated the ability and motivation to undertake postgraduate studies and the capacity to complete a doctoral degree in accordance with the research plan.

The following qualities are appreciated:

- Research interest in some of key research themes of PALO- Background in some of the following areas (or closely related areas): political science, international relations, political theory/philosophy- Experience and/or knowledge in appropriate research methods

The salary is in accordance with the University salary system for teaching and research personnel, levels 2–4, where the position-specific salary component is 1985,85–2475,31 euros per month. In addition, there is a component based on personal performance, which is at most 46.3 % of the position-specific salary.

Trial period is four months.

Applicants must submit with their application a research plan, a CV and list of publications drawn up according to faculty guidelines (http://www.utu.fi/en/units/soc/faculty/careers/) aspx ), and any other document which may bear upon making an appointment to the position.

Applications must be submitted by 16 March (latest 23:59 o’clock). A link to the application can be found on the position’s page at http://www.utu.fi/en/university/come-work-with-us/open-vacancies/.